StoneBridge Community Church
Becoming Who We Are Destined to Be: Joy
Interim Pastor Neal Nybo
Locations & Times
StoneBridge Community Church
4832 Cochran St, Simi Valley, CA 93063, USA
Saturday 5:30 PM
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Online Connection Card
Thanks for joining us today! Follow this link to our online Connection Card where you can let us know you were here and share any prayer concerns.
http://bit.ly/2z61Wwi1. We are destined for ...
We are destined for something more
Personal Reflection / Growth Group Questions
1. Have you ever felt like there was more for you to do or to be in life?
2. Who have you known who most lived into a new transformed life?
1. Have you ever felt like there was more for you to do or to be in life?
2. Who have you known who most lived into a new transformed life?
Personal Reflection / Growth Group Questions
1. Have you ever felt like there was more for you to do or to be in life?
2. Who have you known who most lived into a new transformed life?
2. Who have you known who most lived into a new transformed life?
2. We are destined for ...
We are destined for freedom
The Text In Context
The question of whether new Christians had to follow the old law was a hot button topic in the early church. Paul, the author of Galatians makes it clear that Christ has set us free. Here is a little more about the text.
https://www.bibleref.com/Galatians/5/Galatians-5-1.htmlPersonal Reflection / Growth Growth Discussion
1. Are you familiar with any examples of churches with strict requirements?
2. Read through this list: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Do you feel a sense of freedom thinking about developing these character traits?
3. What does the rest of the verse mean when it says: There is no law against these things!
2. Read through this list: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Do you feel a sense of freedom thinking about developing these character traits?
3. What does the rest of the verse mean when it says: There is no law against these things!
3. We are destined to ...
We are destined to become like Jesus
The Text In Context
Dallas Willard puts the fruit of the Spirit in the context of soul care.
http://www.dwillard.org/articles/individual/personal-soul-careDestined to be fruitful in our faith
Becoming more like Christ, having his character traits is our destiny. Here is more about what it looks like to have the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
https://www.compellingtruth.org/fruitful-Christian.htmlPersonal Reflection / Growth Growth Discussion
1. How would seeking to develop the character traits of the fruit of the spirit be a way to care for our souls, as Dallas Willard suggests in the "text in context" link above?
2. Which of these nine descriptions from the Message translation is most interesting to you?
2. Which of these nine descriptions from the Message translation is most interesting to you?
4. Joyful like ...
Joyful like Jesus
The Text In Context
Here is a description of how children were perceived in Jesus day and a little more about the text in Luke.
http://www.jesuswalk.com/lessons/18_15-17.htmTransactional vs Transcendent
Pastor Neal talked about our culture being transactional while life and joy are transcendent. Here is a link to a blog talking about this difference.
https://bit.ly/2HKc9rVPersonal Reflection / Growth Growth Discussion
1. Describe a time growing up when you felt exuberant about life.
2. Talk about living in a transactional culture and society. Can you give any examples?
3. Why is transcendence important? How does feeling joyful transcendent?
2. Talk about living in a transactional culture and society. Can you give any examples?
3. Why is transcendence important? How does feeling joyful transcendent?
5. Express ...
Express gratitude
John 6:11 “Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks (before any were multiplied), he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.”
John 6:11 “Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks (before any were multiplied), he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.”
Ways to develop joy
Gratefully, seeking to create joy is a popular topic today. Here is an article with several practical ways to develop joy.
https://bit.ly/2FxRp11Personal Reflection / Growth Growth Discussion
1. Besides the example given in the sermon, describe a time Jesus expressed gratitude.
2. When have you expressed gratitude to someone? How did it make them feel?
3. How does expressing gratitude increase our joy?
2. When have you expressed gratitude to someone? How did it make them feel?
3. How does expressing gratitude increase our joy?
6. Find ...
Find purpose
John 18:37 Jesus answered, "For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth.
John 18:37 Jesus answered, "For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth.
Personal Reflection / Growth Growth Discussion
1. Do you have a sense of purpose? What is it?
2. can a sense of purpose be just for a season of life? Can you think of an example?
3. How would you recommend someone pursue a purpose if they don't have one and want one?
4. How does having a purpose increase our joy?
2. can a sense of purpose be just for a season of life? Can you think of an example?
3. How would you recommend someone pursue a purpose if they don't have one and want one?
4. How does having a purpose increase our joy?
7. Double down on
Double down on good relationships
John 21: 15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?
John 21: 15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?
Personal Reflection / Growth Growth Discussion
1. Where do we see Jesus doubling down on relationships?
2. When have relationships been important in your life?
3. When have you been important in someone else's life?
4. How do significant relationships increase our joy?
2. When have relationships been important in your life?
3. When have you been important in someone else's life?
4. How do significant relationships increase our joy?
Next Steps
This week, begin every morning with this prayer that John Stott prayed every day.
Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
By joining a Growth Group, you're joining community! Take a look at the Spring schedule printed in the bulletin and/or contact Barbara Waite (bjwaite@projects-yourway.com) to sign up today.
Come share some love with our neighbors at Ashlee Manor by donating groceries, doing odd jobs, preparing some food for lunch, or just visiting with a lonely friend. For more information or to sign-up, please visit the ministry table after service.
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